Key Takeaways:
– Houston Texans outdid their anticipated 6.5 win/loss over-under in the 2023 NFL season.
– QB C.J. Stroud and WR Tank Dell name C.J. Henderson, Carlton Davis, and Zaire Franklin as the biggest trash talkers they’ve encountered.
– Stroud was named the 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
– Franklin of Colts counters Stroud’s jibes about overcoming Colts in two games.
– Having recovered from a leg injury, Dell gears up for an ambitious 2024 NFL season.
The Stellar Rise of Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are letting their commendable performance speak, almost shouting, of an enviable one-year turnaround. Surpassing the 6.5 win/loss over-under prediction set by sportsbooks before the 2023 NFL season, their triumphant tally for 2023 matches the victory count of the previous three years.
Victory and Verbal Volley
However, the road to victory wasn’t just physical; it involved mental endurance too. During an appearance on the 276th episode of the ‘Million Dollaz Worth of Game’ podcast, Texans star duo Quarterback C.J. Stroud and Wide Receiver Tank Dell laid bare their experience. When asked about trash talking defensive backs, they spared no details.
Top Trash-Talkers Revealed
C.J. Henderson, who Dell has faced once in a narrow 15-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers, topped the list. Despite the lack of details about the actual exchange, it left a lasting impression on Dell. Henderson, the first-round selection of the 2020 draft, is now joining the Texans on a one-year contract.
However, Stroud steered the conversation towards a familiar name, Carlton Davis. Both Stroud and Dell remembered Davis as a major trash talker during their match against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The duo didn’t just take the verbal banter; they also won the match 39-37 in a resounding display of sporting prowess.
An Offensive Rookie on Defensive
C.J. Stroud, being the 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, squeezed in another trash-talker to the list. He named Zaire Franklin of Colts, a frequent critic of his game. Franklin, no one to let it go unanswered, clarified his issues with Stroud during a podcast. Despite Stroud’s claims of outplaying Colts in two games, Franklin reminded him of the 28-7 lead the Colts had during their game and of Stroud’s inability to beat Anthony Richardson.
Anticipating another encounter with Franklin in the first game of the next NFL season, Stroud is girding up for it, asserting that he relishes the animosity coming from Indianapolis.
Tank Dell Aiming High
As Stroud readies for the next season, his teammate Tank Dell has some lofty personal goals. Recovering from a fractured fibula injury, Dell is optimistic about the 2024 NFL Season. He’s eyeing over 1,300 yards with 10-plus touchdowns and 70-plus catches to further prove his earning prowess.
Clearly, the Houston Texans have every reason to look forward with promises of a laudable game from its skilled duos. But whether their ambitious desires will be met with victory or venomous verbal exchange remains to be seen as the new season unfolds.